Independent supermarket Asco to open in Warrington

A new independent supermarket chain is to open its first store in Warrington.

Asco will open its doors to a new 11,000 sq ft unit in Sankey Street which was formerly home to Woolworths.

Backed with private investment, the company also plans to add a further eleven stores in the North West by next summer which could reach 30 within three years, and it hopes to create up to 3,000 jobs.

Its managing director Dave Laney, who formerly worked with retailers including WH Smith and Mothercare over a 30-year period, is determined also to source produce from the region.

Laney said: "Before opening in Warrington we carried out a substantial amount of research which indicated people in the town wanted something different from their grocery and food shopping. Our customers will come from every walk of life but those people who work in or visit town centres and like to shop little and often are likely to form the core of our business. We plan to offer customers an alternative when shopping for their daily essentials which will give them a refreshing and pleasant change."

The principal supplier to Asco is Blakemore Wholesale the retail distribution arm of A.F. Blakemore & Son.

Asco were advised by Kevin Connors at NatWest, who provided banking facilities to the company, to help launch the store.

The store in Warrington has created 65 new jobs.